07x26 - Arsenic and Old Waste

[bunniefuu]

Hi, look, forget it.

All I'm concerned about is why that kid's in the hospital

with a stomach full of arsenic.

I don't know anything more about arsenic than you do.

[Mack] Yeah, you sure?

Or is this just one more way of covering it up, huh?

I think I know where the arsenic is coming from.

What?

I think it's coming from Empire Valley .

He's slipping away, Mack.

-He is not. -[Valene] Yes, he is.

I don't know what I would do if he left.

[ominous music]

[theme music]

[dramatic music]

[coughs]

[engine revving]

-Mack, hi. What's going on? -How you doing?

I spoke to Gary. Didn't he talk to you?

No, I haven't seen him.

He's probably up at the main dining room.

I'm going to meet him up there.

Well, the doctors finally figured out

what happened to Eric, he was poisoned.

Poisoned? From what?

Well, we don't know where it came from yet,

and these guys are going to run some tests.

-Here? -[Mack] Yeah.

Well, why? I-- I thought Eric got sick at home.

I know. But we really think that it came from here.

-You ready, guys? -Wait a minute.

-Just a minute. -I don't understand, Mack.

-The poison? -[Mack] Yeah.

Well, it didn't happen from any household stuff.

It was arsenic.

Come on, guys. You taking off?

No, I think I'll stay around.

[keys jingle]

You know, I waited at the restaurant for 45 minutes.

Sorry, doll, I got a little involved, and time just goes by.

Involved? You're standing here doing nothing.

Nothing? I'm conducting.

-I beg your pardon? -I'm conducting.

[siren wailing]

Making the cars go in the right direction.

Softening the sirens, bringing up a crash or two.

I never learned much about music when I was a kid.

I learned a lot about economics

and corporate politics, never music.

And I always wanted to be a conductor, so I come out here.

I conduct the Sun up.

Sometimes, I conduct the moon down.

I'm just a great conductor.

So, why don't you start conducting your life

like an adult and stop acting so childish

when it comes to Empire Valley?

If I were you, doll,

I'd be more careful about what I was saying.

Well, you are not me, ace. Doll!

You sound like some... some greasy hood in a bad movie.

How do you expect me to respect you

when you...when you tell me you love me

and then you treat me like a car hop?

Would you relax? I was just kidding.

You were not kidding.

You have no idea how small it makes you look

and how-- how stupid it makes me feel.

I ask you a million times not to bring up Empire Valley

when we're having a discussion.

Listen, ace!

For the rest of my life, I don't wanna have to worry

about everything I say when I'm around you.

Empire Valley is my problem, not yours. You understand?

Mine, not yours.

You got it. Let it poison the rest of your life.

I have had it. I am out of here.

Take Empire Valley to dinner, acey.

[melancholy music]

Why the hell couldn't this have waited

until the sale went through?

[knock on door]

-Yes. -It's me, Abby.

Do you know what happened to those reports

on the guest that got sick?

[Abby] No, I didn't handle that.

Mack, what are those men doing in this building?

They're taking samples of the drinking water.

The drinking water?

Well...how could there be poison in the drinking water?

Everyone in Lotus Point would be sick, wouldn't they?

[Mack] We all have different tolerances for arsenic.

Some of those people did get sick here.

Abby, I need those records.

Maybe some disgruntled employee

sprinkled the stuff around.

Whatever it is, we need the reports.

Nobody ever said that those guests

got sick from arsenic, did they?

Nobody said they didn't.

And there was, at least, one mention of arsenic.

Now, I need the records.

Let's just hold on a minute, all right?

Let's just get the records, Abby.

Gary, I don't have the records, all right?

And anyway,

don't you think we ought to be just a little careful here?

We don't know where that poison is coming from yet.

It could be coming from Lotus Point.

Then again, maybe it's not.

[water dripping]

[sighs]

All I'm trying to say is that before we taint ourselves,

before we ruin the reputation of Lotus Point,

don't you think we ought to at least be sure?

All right.

I just hope, Mack, that these guys are gonna be discreet.

[crickets chirping]

I guess I'll take off, unless I can be of some use here.

Not to me, you can't.

[sighs]

[water bubbling]

[Valene] Well, I'm sure she's nervous about it.

I would be too after all she's been through this past year.

It's a wonder she's still sane.

I think she'll be just fine.

You know, it'd probably be good for Cathy

to get away from us all for a while, don't you think?

Don't you think, Ben?

-Ben? -Yeah.

You didn't hear a word I said, did you?

-Yes, I did. -Okay, then, what did I say?

[sighs]

You said it'll be good for Cathy to go away.

You were listening.

Ben, you okay?

Yes, dear. Why?

I don't know, you seem so...

quiet.

[operatic singing]

Shh. Ben.

Stop.

[laughs] You silly, it's time to sleep.

It's all right, it'll give them a little culture.

-Weird, isn't it? -Huh? What?

-Arsenic. -[mannequin] Go.

[g*nsh*t]

[Mack] She'll tell you.

We were out at Westfall a couple of weeks ago.

Uh, yeah, I think she mentioned something about it.

Saw a doctor out there. You know what he said?

He told us that a lot of people were coming down with...

...with arsenic poisoning.

-Really? -Yeah.

Didn't mean anything to me at the time.

I don't know if it does now.

He said it was due to a lot of herbicides

and pesticides around that got into the water supply.

Weird, huh? Jill's from Westfall.

Is she?

-Yeah, she didn't tell you that? -Yeah, I don't remember why.

Come on. She must have told you.

She doesn't tell you things about herself?

-Yeah, some things. -So then, you know about her.

You know about her background, her family?

What are you asking here?

You want to know if Jill knew something about the poisoning?

This is taking forever.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. You think she told me something?

You think I'm keeping information from you?

You think I am an accomplice in all this?

No, of course, not.

Well, then, why all the questions?

-Take it easy, cowboy. -Mr. Ewing, we're wrapped up.

[doors closing]

[mellow music]

[soft music]

[phone rings]

[ringing continues]

Yeah. Hello.

Gary, hi. I couldn't sleep.

They haven't found any, if that's what you're calling for.

They haven't?

No, they can only do certain tests with the mobile unit.

They've got to take the rest of the samples back to the lab.

When will they have the results?

As soon as they're ready, Abby.

Anything else?

No, I guess not.

Goodbye.

[tranquil music]

[thuds]

What, are we speaking again?

We're here, whether we're speaking or not.

We'll see.

What're you doing up so early?

[sighs] How was I supposed to sleep

with your calling me every two hours?

Hey, I needed to discuss something with you.

Yeah, right. You were in need of my advice.

I am in need of your advice.

It's starting to bother me

that Abby's trying to unload this ground.

Why is she trying to put this deal together so quickly?

That's not the question. The question is...

Thanks, Jack.

Put her in standing rep.

She's starting to get a little tired up front.

Yes, Sir.

Go ahead, I'm sorry. What did you say?

Look, when it comes to Empire Valley, I...

You just do whatever you want. I don't care.

Sure, you do. That's why I love you.

Oh, I'm going to kick you right in the...

Now, will you, woman?

Why is Abby trying to get rid of this ground?

She's not even going to own it until after her divorce.

Because it means millions of dollars,

TV stations, a seat on the Galveston board--

It's got to be more complicated than that.

Why should it be more complicated?

You are offering her the whole store.

You know, doll, you've got a great brain.

You just don't think devious enough.

Oh, I'm surprised all the time I spend with you.

My mind ought to be a swamp.

[horse neighs]

I guess they didn't find anything

or you would've said so.

No, honey, not yet.

Look, I know you've been through this before,

but I want you to think real hard.

Did you go anywhere between the office and home?

A hot dog stand, a vending machine?

I came right home.

The only thing I keep thinking of, though,

is what happened to me while I was swimming.

No, it's not that.

Well, it's never happened to me before.

I just coughed or choked or something.

I don't know, and swallowed a whole bunch of water.

No, they got the results back from the pool analysis.

-This? -No, it wasn't the pool, mom.

What?

I was swimming in the reservoir out near the irrigation pumps.

I have been for months, whenever I'm working out there.

[melancholy music]

Honey, come sit down.

I'd better tell Mack.

I'll be right back.

[tranquil music]

Hi. Can I have my room key?

-No messages? -No.

-Mr. Ewing didn't call? -Afraid not.

Okay, thanks.

-I got it. -[Lilimae] What?

The door...

[scoffs]

Could've sworn I heard the door.

Oh, that happens to me so many times

when I'm waiting for someone.

I hear the bell a dozen times before it actually rings.

Well, sweet pea, you look stunning.

-What time is it? -Huh?

Almost seven o'clock.

Oh, now he said he might be late.

I know, but it's Saturday, and he's been out all day.

He'll be home. He's working, that's all.

I know that he's working, mama.

Don't get so edgy.

I'm sure Ben has an awful lot to do these days,

with Cathy leaving,

he's got to schedule new people, and he's got to...

-Mama! I know all that. -What?

-I just thought... -What?

I don't...

No, I just thought maybe he would call me.

I remember plenty of times when you worked on the weekends,

and you did exactly what you had to do.

You didn't pay a lot of attention

to what anybody else had to say.

Now, where did I put that paprika?

-Can you see it? -Yeah, it's right here.

Oh, thanks, darling. Oh, just a dab.

Darling, you know, I don't interfere with you and Ben.

Okay, okay, mama, so you've made your point.

Hm.

Taste this.

-Is it all right? -Yeah, it's fine.

Well, let's eat then.

Kitchen or dining room, plain or fancy?

I don't really care, mama.

[sighs] Hmm.

Last one.

Oh, yeah. Give me a sec.

Thank you, boss. Where do you want it?

Just... put it around over there.

Okay.

You're going to see why unions go on strike.

[sighs]

You think we made any difference?

-Yeah. -Oh, that's good.

That's real good, Dave. A lot of enthusiasm there.

I think we-- I think we made a difference.

You want to split the last beer?

-Um, no, thanks. -[phone rings]

It's late. Are you walking out?

-No, not right now. -[phone rings]

-Ben Gibson. Hi. -[Valene] Ben?

Hi! What happened? Did you get lost?

[Ben] No, no, I'm just here at work.

I can get things done on a Saturday that I...

...can't seem to be able to get done during the week.

-Thank you, man. -Thank you.

I could use the overtime. See you Monday.

Yeah.

-Sorry. -[Valene] That's okay.

I was... I was just wondering about dinner.

Well, mama cooked us stew.

Oh! Why don't you guys go ahead and eat?

I... I'll be a while here.

Oh, that's okay. We could, you know, wait. I could wait.

I'll grab something when I get home.

Well, don't be too late.

I won't.

-Ben? -[Ben] Mm-hmm?

I wish...

I love you.

I love you, too.

Bye-bye.

[gloomy music]

[irregulars notes]

[mellow piano music]

-Hi, Ben. -[screams]

[laughs]

I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.

-[panting] -What are you doing here?

Right now, I'm dying of cardiac arrest.

-Oh, stop. -What are you doing here?

I was cleaning up my dressing room.

The day after tomorrow, huh?

Yeah.

[soft piano music]

You know, I've been wanting to talk to you about something.

You didn't dance with me at the ball.

[mellow music]

Oh, I just love that show.

It's a stupid program. I don't know why you'd watch it.

Well...

I'll turn it off, then.

I do love it, though.

I wonder if Karen's home yet.

You know, sweetie, I'm feeling a little tired.

I think I'll go upstairs.

Okay, mama, you go on, and I'll...

I'll clean up down here.

Okay, thank you.

Goodnight.

Valene?

What, mama?

Sometimes, a man needs a little space.

That's all.

Ben's only human, you know.

[melancholy music]

[Cathy] I want to ask you something.

You don't have to answer me if you don't want to, okay?

[Ben scoffs]

I'm braced.

You know, the night of the ball, when all the trouble started...

Greg Sumner said something about the twins.

He almost said that they're not yours. Why?

Because they're not.

How is he?

Better. Stronger.

How long will he have to stay in the hospital?

I don't know. Another week or so.

Depends on how long it takes for his system to...

clean the poison out.

Do they know where it's coming from yet?

Mack's calling again now.

He reminds me so much of Sid.

I don't know why. He doesn't really look like Sid at all.

Michael looks much more like Sid than Eric.

Maybe it's his sweetness.

[mellow music]

Sid was always so sweet.

So strong.

When I was a kid, he always knew

when I needed him and he was always there.

Sometimes when I'm alone in the car...

or in the shower, I think about him.

And he becomes so real.

And then I realize he's gone.

I miss him so much sometimes.

[mellow music continues]

I miss him too.

-Hi. -Hi, Abby.

Hey, can I see you a minute?

-I'll be back, honey. -Okay.

-How you doin'? -Good.

The reservoir's loaded with arsenic.

-What? -That can't be.

If it was in the reservoir, it would be in the drinking water.

I just spoke to the response team.

They processed the samples.

And their theory is that there's a release of arsine gas

that dumps right into this particular reservoir.

And when the gas evaporates,

a residue of arsenic collects in a way

that it can't when the water flows.

Enough to almost k*ll Eric?

Arsenic accumulates in the body,

and Eric really got a mouthful this time.

Enough to put him over the edge.

[Abby] He'll be all right, Karen.

-He's out of danger, isn't he? -[Karen] Not yet.

And who knows what the long-term effects will be?

Arsenic, where the hell is that coming from?

[dramatic music]

[Mack] And this!

All right.

I didn't expect to find anybody here today.

I didn't either. What're you doing here?

What're you doing here?

Trying to find out how Eric got poisoned.

-Poison? -[Mack] Yeah.

Come on in. You can help us.

You're an expert on these things.

Me? I'm not an expert.

-Oh, don't be modest. -Yeah.

You know, Jill's full of surprises.

You never know what she's into.

Mack, you know what I've been looking into.

[Mack] I thought I did.

But now I'm not so sure, you know.

Every time I talk to you, it's a different story.

First you lie to me about why you transferred here,

and then you meet someone in the street

who remembers you from high school,

except you pretend like you don't even know her.

Then I find out you're investigating a case

behind my back.

What else didn't you tell me, huh?

Jill or Dorothy, whoever the hell you are?

-Mack! -Mack, I told you all about--

All right. Look, forget it, all I'm concerned about

is why that kid's in the hospital

with a stomach full of arsenic.

Arsenic?

Mack, I'm sorry. I don't know anything.

I want to know how he got poisoned.

I want to know how it got to Lotus Point

and Westfall and wherever else it is.

I don't know. I wish I did.

You were investigating Galveston Industries.

You were investigating why Galveston poisoned Westfall.

But that was years ago, Mack,

and he poisoned it with salmonella, not with arsenic.

I don't know anything more about arsenic than you do.

Oh, yeah? Are you sure?

Or is this just one more way of covering it up, huh?

I'm not covering up anything. Mack, I swear, I...

Why'd you do that?

What the hell's wrong with Eric?

Why couldn't he swim in the damn pool?

[phone rings]

Yeah, hello. Hello!

[gloomy music]

[crickets chirping]

Gary, I want to talk to you about the other night.

I didn't want to see you.

I mean, I wanted to see you. But I can't.

-Jill... -See?

It's been a really tough last few months.

You can't imagine.

I mean, it's really been hard for me...

Jill, what the hell's wrong with you?

I feel like a ping pong ball.

I fell in love with you.

I don't want to be in love with you.

I can't.

I need some time, Gary.

Just a little space.

-Time for what? -To think.

Before I got here,

I had in mind everything I wanted to say to you.

And now that you're here, and I'm here, I can't.

I'm sorry, Gary.

I believe her. I don't think Jill knew about the arsenic.

-Yeah, I guess I do. -Oh, there you are.

Listen, I've... I got to talk to both of you guys.

-What's the matter? -[sighs]

[sighs] I think I know where the...

arsenic is coming from.

What?

I think it's coming from Empire Valley.

How would you know it's coming from Empire Valley?

I read a report that said that Galveston Industries

had dumped hazardous waste at Empire Valley

several years ago.

Some of the materials they dumped were

arsenic and arsine gas.

You said you read a report?

Yeah. It came up in a planning commission meeting

-a couple of days ago. -[Karen] That's incredible.

I know. I couldn't believe it either.

What's incredible is that you didn't tell us.

-Well, I am telling you. -She is.

Now, after you've been sitting on it for a couple of days...

Please, I know that you are real upset about Eric,

-[Karen] You're damn right I am. -...but don't you dare accuse me

of sitting on something like this.

Wait a minute, Abby.

Come on, you said you've known about it for a couple of days.

I knew about it and I was trying to get some information,

but don't, for God's sake, tell me I was sitting on it.

All right, calm down.

Look, don't you understand the potential

for a... for a scandal here?

I mean, I wasn't going to go broadcast it all over the place

until I was pretty damn sure

and I'm still not absolutely sure.

All right.

We're all involved here, you know.

When it comes to Empire Valley,

we all have something at stake, don't we?

[dramatic music]

[Greg] Are you sure? How sure are you?

That sure?

[maid] Good morning. Would you like some of our eggs?

You know what, I don't think I'll have anything.

I'm just going to run. Thanks, though.

Okay, Malcolm. Thank you.

-Well, what do you know? -What's the matter?

I told you Abby was working overtime unloading that land.

She's trying to sell me damaged goods.

What do you mean damaged goods?

I'm beginning to appreciate my old man's sense of humor.

Galveston dies,

and he leaves a chunk of ground that everybody wants.

The joke is, he's planted it in toxic waste.

[Gary] And you didn't say anything?

[Abby] I explained all this, Gary.

Oh, right, you always explain things.

But it's always after the fact, never before.

Never while there's still time to do something about it.

How long have you known about this, Abby?

Two days, I told you. Two days only.

You sure it wasn't two weeks--

Gary, I don't need this

right now, I simply don't need it.

Do you think Karen needs it? Do you think her son needs it?

Look, will the two of you just stop this?

We've got to deal with a very serious problem.

The gas is moving fast.

Do you realize it could contaminate all of Lotus Point?

-You bet it could. -What're we going to do?

I'll tell you what we're going to do.

We're gonna pay a visit to Abby's friend, Sumner.

What good will that do?

That gas is coming from Empire Valley, isn't it?

Right. And who owns Empire Valley, Gary?

You, me, Karen, and, of course, our extended family.

Let's just stick to the subject, all right?

This is our family's problem, Gary, not Sumner's.

He even tried to buy that land back

from you for a very fair price.

But, no, no, you weren't going to sell.

Well, now we're all stuck.

No, we're not.

Look, the point is, we have to clean it up,

or, at least, block it before any more reaches us.

And you know what the price tag for that's going to be?

I'm sure as hell not gonna pay it.

I'm gonna drop this whole thing in Sumner's lap.

There he goes again.

-[Karen] Abby! -Gary, think!

For once in your life, think!

His father buried those chemicals.

But that was years ago, before it was ill*gal.

I don't give a damn, 'cause his company's still responsible.

Is it, Gary? Is it?

-Or are you? -What?

Those chemicals were buried in containers

that were lined and sealed.

It said so in the report. Lined and sealed!

And they stayed that way until a few months ago.

When you got it into your head

to blow up those buildings at Empire Valley.

Remember? Boom! Boom! Boom!

You did it, Gary.

You're responsible for those chemicals.

You might as well blame yourself for this pollution. You!

All right, all right, all right!

-I got to go. -Oh, wait, wait, wait.

Could you just hold him for a second

-while I dry him off? -I'm running late.

Oh, but, sweetie, it'll just be for a second.

-I'm really late. -But you could be a little late.

I mean, you spent the whole weekend there, didn't you?

-Nice. -I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I didn't mean that the way it sounded.

Come on. We're gonna get back to work.

All right. Well, just hurry, okay?

All right. Come on, Bets. We gotta hurry.

Daddy's gonna be late to his office.

Come on. Here we go to get you dry.

Don't you even think about splashing me.

Oh, good. Real good. Fine. Great.

Yeah, now Dad has to change his suit.

-Good job, Bob. Real good. -Okay.

I mean, it's us. We're here. We're alone.

The guys, you know, we're just...

Is that any way to act? Bob Gibson?

Bob Ewing Gibson?

[soft music]

[Bob babbling]

Whoever you are...

and whosoever you are...

I love you, kid.

And I'll always will.

[blows raspberry]

[mellow music]

Hi. Your neighbor told me you were here.

-What do you want? -Just to see you.

I think I got a little... carried away the other day.

You certainly did. You threatened me.

You know, you actually threatened me.

Yeah, I guess it sounded like that.

Talking about my having a heart attack

and falling down some stairs.

Now that you misunderstood.

I didn't misunderstand anything.

What do you think, I'm stupid? I'm not stupid.

I know you're not stupid.

-You are not. -Maybe I am.

Getting into a harebrained scheme with you.

I... I'm getting scared, Peter.

I'm sorry about what I said the other day.

But I was so upset about your telling Abby.

You know how important this lawsuit is to me.

I don't know what's happened to you, Peter.

I-- I really don't know.

Somebody k*lled my parents. Makes you do strange things.

[horn honks]

I don't want to hear it. I'm buying this place.

I know. It's going to cost me a fortune to put it back together.

-But I don't care. -God, you're so exasperating.

You know, I didn't go to the office today.

After I got that call and you left...

I went back in the house and I dug up

some pictures of my father.

I sat there.

And I started looking in the old man's bleary eyes.

You know, trying to figure out why he did this to me.

Why he gave the land to Gary in the first place.

And why he poisoned the land.

And then it suddenly dawned on me.

Maybe he gave the land to Gary because it was poisoned.

Maybe the joke's on Gary Ewing.

Maybe my old man did love me a little bit anyway.

I just don't see why you want it back.

I want it back because I'm tired of losing.

You realize since I met you, I've lost my Senate seat?

I lost Com Center.

I lost to Coblenz. I lost to Gary Ewing.

I lost to Abby Ewing. I lost to Bobby and Betsy Ewing.

I'm tired of losing these battles.

And I'm gonna win this one.

I don't care if the whole place is covered with toxic waste.

I want it. And I'm gonna get it back.

Once I get it in my name, then I'll decide what to do.

It's getting a little chilly out here.

I think I'm gonna dump the jeep. What do you say I ride with you?

I'll get in the back and you can be my chauffeur.

Sure.

[Valene] This is a mess here.

You gotta have a place for dinner.

[laughs]

-Frozen cake? -Come on, it's like ice cream.

Oh, Mack.

Honest to God, I don't know how you're holding up.

How are you doing this, eating like this?

-Fine. -Fine.

How are you doing?

-Me? -Yeah.

I'm fine.

You're fine. I'm fine.

Everybody's fine. Everything's fine.

What's so fine about you?

Well...

Come on.

He's slipping away, Mack.

-He is not? -Yes, he is.

-Come on, darling. -No, I mean it.

[gloomy music]

If ever I was sure of anything in my life...

it was that I could make everything work out

-between the two of us. -You're making this up.

No, make it like a family, you know?

I don't know what I'd ever do if I... if he went away.

-He's not going anywhere. -He will.

We started out our marriage living with mama.

We had to go through the funeral with Joshua and...

...the twins.

And now this whole big gift that Gary wants to give him.

Gave him.

Do you know how much I need him, Mack?

How much my children need him?

I mean, children have to grow up with a daddy.

I mean, they gotta have one daddy.

It's got to be a family with me, I don't know why that is but--

He wants it too. Come on, Val.

I don't know why. I know this all sounds so old-fashioned.

Yeah, it is. It's good old-fashioned.

And you're a good old-fashioned girl.

Yeah, I know I am.

Mack...

[gloomy music continues]

I can't lose him.

You won't lose him. You've got to keep one thing in mind.

Ben's a good old-fashioned boy.

[knocking on the door]

-Who is it? -Your landlord.

Hi.

You didn't come by the studio today.

Yeah, well...

-Maid's night off? -Oh, thanks.

I just can't decide what to take with me

and what to pack and what to store.

I don't know.

What I'd like to do is make a big pile

and burn everything and start over.

Wouldn't that be nice?

You know, I was sitting at work today behind my desk,

and I got this great idea.

So, I went-- I went charging off to your dressing room

to tell you about it.

And I got there, and I threw open the door.

And the room was empty.

All the Cathy things were gone.

[chuckles]

Open it on the road.

[mellow music]

-Ben, you didn't have... -Is that my shirt?

Yeah. [laughs]

I wondered where that shirt went.

You wear it?

Sometimes, yeah.

I'm an old-fashioned kind of guy.

And I love my wife.

And I love those babies.

I know.

My family is very important to me.

I have a good life.

I know.

You shouldn't be here.

[theme music]